Head loss reducing device for a swimming pool water heater, heat pump, or other heating product for pools or spas

ABSTRACT

Techniques for reducing head loss in certain water-recirculation or other systems are detailed. A motorized diverter valve may be used to divert water away from a heat exchanger when the exchanger is not in use, for example. Instead, the diverted water may flow through a lower-loss system to the next downstream component of the system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/616,487, tiled Mar. 28, 2012, having the same title as appears above, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to reducing head loss in pumping systems and more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to reducing head loss in recreational water recirculation systems especially when associated heating devices are not in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pool and spa water recirculation systems often include mechanisms for heating the recirculating water. Such mechanisms, together with other components of the systems, increase resistance to water flow and thus create head loss in the systems. Consequently, additional energy must be employed to overcome this loss in order to maintain a desired flow rate of the water.

Unlike many components of recreational water recirculation systems, heating mechanisms often may be used only for limited periods of time. Water nevertheless typically is routed through the heating mechanisms even if no heating is occurring. Not only does such routing create unnecessary head loss, it also can reduce useful lives of the heat exchangers of the heating mechanisms. These heat exchangers often are made of copper or alloys (e.g. cuprous nickel) or other materials susceptible to degradation via erosion or corrosion when contacted with the recirculating water. This is true even if the heat exchangers are downstream of filters within the recirculation systems and hence receive only filtered water.

There thus is a need for techniques for, and methods of, reducing head loss and unnecessary component degradation in water recirculation systems for, e.g., pools and spas. In particular, when water-heating mechanisms are inactive, routing water through the mechanisms nonetheless is inefficient and should be avoided. Such avoidance may serve to reduce head losses through the systems, allowing higher flow rates and less time and energy needed to “turnover” a pool or spa (i.e. filter a quantity of water substantially equaling all of the water therein). It also may function to increase useful lives of heat exchangers by not flowing water therethrough when unnecessary to do so.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides the needed techniques and methods together with equipment to accomplish them. For example, a diverter valve may be employed to divert water away from a heat exchanger when the exchanger is not in use. The diverted water instead may pass through a lower head loss piping arrangement to the next downstream component of a water-recirculation system. By contrast, the diverter valve may allow water to pass into the heat exchanger when the heating mechanism is active. Additionally, in at least some cases the diverter valve may allow water to (1) pass into the heat exchanger when the system has requested that heating occur and the heating, mechanism is preparing to activate, to heat the water or (2) bypass the heat exchanger even when the heating mechanism is active, if the water flow to the heater is deemed excessive.

Some versions of the invention include a mechanized diverter valve. Preferably the valve is located at, adjacent, or near an inlet to a heating mechanism, although it need not necessarily have any particular positioning relative to the mechanism. The diverter valve similarly may he positioned either within or without a heater enclosure as appropriate or desired. Its mechanization may include a solenoid-activated motor or other means allowing automatic operation. An electrical or electronic controller also preferably controls operation of both the diverter valve and the heating mechanism so as to allow coordination of their operation. Such a controller may be external to the heating mechanism or, alternatively, part of heater user-interface circuitry, an ignition control module, or other circuitry within the heating mechanism.

It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide techniques for reducing head loss in fluid-circulation systems.

It is also an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide techniques for reducing head loss in systems for recirculating recreational water such as that found in swimming pools and spas.

It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide techniques for diverting water away from heating mechanisms when the mechanism are inactive or are saturated with flow).

It is an additional optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide techniques for automatically adjusting position of a diverter valve based on a heating status of a heating mechanism.

It is moreover, an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide diverter valves allowing diversion of water away from heat exchangers as appropriate to reduce erosion or corrosion of the exchangers.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will he apparent to those skilled in the appropriate art with reference to the remaining text and the drawings of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a generally-schematicized view of an exemplary system of components consistent with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a generally-schematicized view of the system of FIG. 1 illustrating a circulation path when liquid is diverted from the heating mechanism of the system.

FIG. 3 is a generally-schematicized view of the system of FIG. 1 illustrating a circulation path when liquid is not diverted from the heating mechanism of the system.

FIG. 4A is a generally-schematicized view of a first alternate system of components consistent with the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a generally-schematicized view of a variant of the first alternate system of components of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a generally-schematicized view of a second alternate system of components consistent with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

Depicted in FIG. 1 is exemplary system 10 including heating mechanism 14, diverter valve 18, and plumbing assembly 22. Heating mechanism 14 may be any existing or hereinafter-created equipment for heating liquid and preferably is a water heater or heat pump configured for use as part of a water-circulation system for a pool or spa. It may, but need not, include a heat exchanger susceptible to erosion, corrosion, or other degradation when contacted over time by pool or spa water. As shown in FIG. 1, heating mechanism may include liquid inlet 11 and liquid outlet 12.

Diverter valve 18 may be any valve or equivalent device adapted to change a direction or path of liquid flowing therethrough. Valve 18 may be manually operated. Preferably, however, it is automatically actuated by, for example, a solenoid or other controllable device. Valve 18 may be motorized and contain a ratchet mechanism for maintaining diverter 24 (see FIGS. 2-3) in a particular position until another movement command is received. Any electrical communication with the actuator of valve 18 may be via wire or wirelessly.

In at least some embodiments of system 10, plumbing assembly 22 may comprise fittings 26 and 30 together with center joining tube 34 and t-fitting 38. Fitting 26 joins diverter valve 18 to inlet 11, while fitting 30 connects outlet 12 to t-fitting 38. Center joining tube 34 connects diverter valve 18 with t-fitting 38. As shown, therefore, diverter valve 18 includes one inlet 42 and first and second outlets 46 and 50, respectively. T-fitting, by contrast, includes two inlets 54 and 58 and one outlet 62, Center joining tube 34 includes inlet 66 and outlet 70. Plumbing assembly 22 may, if desired, be included within a manifold of heating mechanism 14. Alternatively, it may be positioned elsewhere relative to the mechanism 14.

Liquid, typically pool or spa water, exits the pools or spa, passes through any number of devices designed to positively affect its characteristics for recreational usage, and then arrives at inlet 42 of diverter valve 18. If diverter 24 assumes a first position as shown in FIG. 2, it blocks first outlet 46 and thus prevents the liquid from entering inlet 11, shunting the liquid instead to second outlet 50. From there the liquid may flow through center joining tube 34 from its inlet 66 to its outlet 70, into t-fitting 38 through its inlet 54, and exit t-fitting 38 via outlet 62 for downstream travel. In this manner, diverter valve 18 diverts liquid away from heating mechanism 14 when desirable to do so.

FIG. 3 details diverter 24 of valve 18 in a second position in which it blocks second outlet 50. This blockage prevents liquid from exiting valve 18 via the second outlet 50, thereby routing all of the liquid through first outlet 46 into inlet 11 of heating mechanism 14. If mechanism 14 is active, it may heat (or otherwise act upon) the liquid before allowing it to exit via outlet 12. Liquid exiting the outlet 12 may enter t-fitting through its inlet 58 and exit its outlet 62 for downstream travel. Hence, then diverter 24 is in its second position, no by-passing of heating mechanism 14 occurs.

Yet alternatively, diverter 24 may assume other positions. For example, diverter 24 may be positioned intermediate the first and second positions so as to allow some flowing liquid to enter inlet 11 of heating mechanism 14 while also permitting some flowing liquid to by-pass mechanism 14 and instead travel to center joining tube 34. Diverter 24 conceivably could, in some instances, partially or wholly block inlet 42 of diverter valve 18.

Preferably, though, diverter valve 18 is controllable so as to by-pass heating mechanism 14 when the heater is inactive, when the mechanism 14 is saturated with excessive liquid flow, in both cases, or otherwise as desired. Valve 18 thus advantageously includes an automatically-controllable actuator for diverter 24. As noted above the actuator be an electrical device such as a solenoid, although hydraulic or other non-electric actuators may be utilized instead.

FIG, 4A illustrates first alternate system 10′ of the invention. System 10′ may be similar to system 10, substituting check valve 74 for t-fitting 38. As depicted in FIG, 4A, check valve 74 may include two inlets 78 (connected to center joining tube 34) and 82 (connected to outlet 12 via a one-way flow component) and one outlet 86. Alternatively, variant check valve 74′ may include a single inlet 82′ and one outlet 86′ and be connected in series between outlet 12 and inlet 58 of t-fitting 38 (see FIG. 4B). Inclusion of such a check valve 74 or 74′ may be especially beneficial when outlet 86 or 86′ leads to a downstream chlorinator or other device for chemically treating water, as chemically treated water preferably should be prevented from entering heating mechanism 14 via outlet 12. This is particularly true when a circulation system is de-activated, as treated water not yet dispersed into a pool or spa may both have significant concentration of chemicals and be subject to back-pressure pushing it toward outlet 12.

Shown in FIG. 5 is a second alternate system 10″ consistent with the present invention. It too may be similar to system 10 but include flow sensor 90 plumbed in series between inlet 11 of heating mechanism 14 and first outlet 46 of diverter valve 18. Flow sensor 90 may be a meter an indicator, or both a meter and indicator and if desired may be installed elsewhere within system 10″.

In general, plumbing assembly 22 preferably provides less head loss than does heating mechanism 14, Therefore, diverting liquid away from mechanism 14 and routing it wholly through plumbing assembly 22 should reduce head loss in any of systems 10, 10′, or 10″, a goal of the invention. Even if head loss of plumbing assembly 22 equals or exceeds that of heating mechanism 14, however, its use as a by-pass may continue to be beneficial in prolonging the useful life of the mechanism 14, Any or all components of systems 10, 10′, or 10″ may be provided as retrofit kits for existing mechanisms 14 or as part of new construction.

The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the Invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a. a liquid heating mechanism comprising an inlet; and b. a diverter valve (i) having a first outlet in liquid communication with the inlet of the liquid heating mechanism, (ii) comprising a diverter configured, (A) in a first position, to prevent liquid from flowing from the first outlet to the inlet of the liquid heating mechanism, and (B) in a second position, to allow liquid to flow from the first outlet to the inlet of the liquid heating mechanism, and (iii) being automatically controllable so that the diverter assumes the first position so as to reduce head loss of the system.
 2. A system according to claim 1 in which the diverter valve further comprises a second outlet not in liquid communication with the inlet of the liquid heating mechanism.
 3. A system according to claim 2 (a) in which the liquid is pool or spa water and (b) further comprising a center joining tube to which the second outlet of the diverter valve is connected.
 4. A system according to claim 3 (a) in which the liquid heating mechanism further comprises an outlet and (b) further comprising a t-fitting or check valve in fluid communication with the center joining tube.
 5. A system according to claim 4 further comprising a flow sensor interposed between the first outlet of the diverter valve and the inlet of the liquid heating mechanism.
 6. system according to claim 1 further comprising a flow sensor interposed between the first outlet of the diverter valve and the inlet of the liquid heating mechanism.
 7. A system according to claim 1 in which the diverter valve further comprises a motor configured to move the diverter between positions.
 8. A system according to claim 7 in which the motor is a solenoid.
 9. A diverter valve configured for use as part of a pool or spa water circulation system and comprising a diverter valve (a) having a first outlet configured for liquid communication with an inlet of the liquid heating mechanism, (b) comprising a diverter configured, in use, (i) to assume a first position to prevent liquid from flowing from the first outlet to the inlet of the liquid heating mechanism, and (ii) to assume a second position to allow liquid to flow from the first outlet to the inlet of the liquid heating mechanism, and (c) being automatically controllable in use so that the diverter assumes the first position so as to reduce head loss of the system.
 10. A method of by-passing a heating mechanism of a pool or spa water circulation system so as to reduce head loss caused by the heating mechanism, comprising: a. passing the pool or spa water to an inlet of a motorized diverter valve having first and second outlets, the first outlet of which is in fluid communication with an inlet of the heating mechanism and the second outlet of which is not in fluid communication with the inlet of the heating mechanism; and b. positioning a diverter of the diverter valve so that pool or spa water exits the diverter valve through the second outlet. 